U.S. patent application number 11/331778 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-01 for fluorescent light source.
Invention is credited to Run Lin Ho.
Application Number | 20060114670 11/331778 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40376191 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060114670 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ho; Run Lin |
June 1, 2006 |
Fluorescent light source
Abstract
A fluorescent light source includes at least one tube
surrounding an interior region. The tube has a plurality of tubular
portions, each one of which is disposed adjacent to at least one
other tubular portion. The fluorescent light source has a support
member, and each one of the tubular portions is configured to
extend vertically from the support member and to curve outwardly
away from the interior region.
Inventors: |
Ho; Run Lin; (Xiamen,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BELL, BOYD & LLOYD, LLC
PO BOX 1135
CHICAGO
IL
60690-1135
US
|
Family ID: |
40376191 |
Appl. No.: |
11/331778 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10799466 |
Mar 12, 2004 |
7012373 |
|
|
11331778 |
Jan 13, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/225 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01J 61/327
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/225 |
International
Class: |
F21S 4/00 20060101
F21S004/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 26, 2003 |
CN |
03222136.3 |
Claims
1. A fluorescent light source comprising: a tube surrounding an
interior region, the tube having a plurality of tubular portions,
each one of the tubular portions disposed adjacent to at least one
other tubular portion, and each one of the tubular portions
configured to be in fluid communication with the at least one other
tubular portion; and a support member, each one of the plurality of
tubular portions configured to extend vertically from the support
member and to curve outwardly away from the interior region.
2. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein each one of the
plurality of tubular portions has: (a) a first end mounted to the
support member; and (b) a second end disposed at an angle of at
least approximately 45.degree. relative to the second end of the at
least one other tubular portion.
3. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein the second end
of each one of the plurality of tubular portions is disposed
symmetrically about a central axis of the interior region.
4. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein each one of the
plurality of tubular portions has a curvature that is generally
convex.
5. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein a shape of each
one of the plurality of tubular portions is substantially
identical.
6. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein each one of the
plurality of tubular portions has a full or partial u-shape.
7. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein the tube is a
plurality of individual tubes interconnected together.
8. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein the tube is a
single, integral structure.
9. The fluorescent light source of claim 1, wherein the tube has a
pear-shaped configuration.
10. The fluorescent light source of claim of claim 1, including:
(a) a cover coupled to the support member, the cover defining a
cavity; and (b) an electronic ballast disposed within the cavity of
the cover, the electronic ballast electrically connected to the
tube.
11. The fluorescent light source of claim 10, including a base
coupled to the cover.
12. The fluorescent light source of claim 11, wherein the cover
includes an upper cover and a lower cover, the upper cover coupled
to the base, the lower cover coupled to the support member, and the
electronic ballast disposed within the lower cover.
13. A compact fluorescent light source, a top portion of which has
a spherical shape, the compact fluorescent light source comprising:
a support; and at least one tubular member supported by the
support, the tubular member configured to define at least part of
the spherical shape.
14. The compact fluorescent light source of claim 13, wherein each
one of the plurality of portions has a curvature that is generally
convex, and the second end of each one of the plurality of portions
is disposed symmetrically about a central axis of the interior
region.
15. The compact fluorescent light source of claim 13, wherein the
spherical structure has a pear-shaped configuration.
16. The compact fluorescent light source of claim 13, wherein the
spherical structure is one of a plurality of individual tubes
interconnected together or a single, integral structure.
17. A method for manufacturing a fluorescent light source, the
method comprising: (a) forming a plurality of portions so that each
one of the plurality of portions has a curved shape; (b) arranging
the plurality of portions so as to form a spherical shape for a top
portion of the fluorescent light source; and (c) connecting the
plurality of portions so that each one of the plurality of portions
is in fluid communication with the at least one other portion.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (b) includes: mounting a
first end of each one of the plurality of portions to a support so
that each one of the plurality of portions extends vertically from
the support; and configuring a second end of each one of the
plurality of portions to be adjacent to the second end of the at
least one other portion.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein step (b) includes causing the
fluorescent light source to have a pear shape.
20. The method of claim 17, further including: (a) coupling a cover
to the portions, the cover defining a cavity; (b) positioning an
electronic ballast within the cavity of the cover; and (c)
operatively coupling the electronic ballast to each of the
plurality of portions.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/799,466,
filed on Mar. 12, 2004 and entitled "Electronic Energy-Saving
Fluorescent Lamp of Ultra-Short Chayote-Shaped Compact Type,"
which, in turn, claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.
CN03222136.3, filed May 26, 2003, entitled "Ultra-Short
Chayote-Like Compact Electronic Energy-Saving Fluorescent
Lamp."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This utility model relates to illuminating lamps, in
particular to an ultra-short Chayote-like compact electronic
energy-saving fluorescent lamp.
[0003] The existing compact electronic energy-saving fluorescent
lamps (hereinafter referred to as CFL) with medium and low power
smaller than 24 W have basically a column structure in their
structural configuration, e.g., U-shape, N-shape, H-shape, the
shape of double screw bolt, etc. These existing CFL's have a
cylindrical source of light in common, meanwhile the lower cover
used to secure the luminous tube in these lamps is of planar
construction. The electronic ballast is usually assembled by
separate type components. These separate type components (including
a current limiting inductor with larger size occupying relatively
larger space) are totally mounted on the component side of the
Printed Circuit Board (PCB), making the upper and lower covers for
receiving the electronic ballast have larger size. Therefore, such
a CFL has many disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is the light
utilization rate is much lower because the light sent out from the
inside surface of the luminous tube is kept out by the near and the
opposite luminous tubes. Another disadvantage is the heat generated
by the luminous tubes is difficult to be emitted because the
luminous tubes of the fluorescent lamp are abutted against one
another. Thus, a considerable amount of heat is accumulated,
resulting in too high temperature in the working area of the
luminous tube and the luminous efficiency is reduced. An additional
disadvantage is the luminous tube is longer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Based on the full analysis of the CFL's with power smaller
than 24 W, the present invention eliminates or decreases their
deficiencies, provides solutions for solving these problems and
implements the corresponding technical measures which, in one
embodiment, results in a Chayote-like compact electronic
energy-saving fluorescent lamp (hereinafter referred to as
Chayote-like lamp).
[0005] In one embodiment, the Chayote-like lamp comprises a base,
an upper cover, a lower cover, a luminous tube combination or
luminous tube and an electronic ballast. The luminous tube is
formed by bridge connection of several luminous tubes. The current
limiting inductor of the electronic ballast is welded and assembled
on the face of the weld of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). A
cylindrical cavity protrudes downward from the bottom center of the
lower cover, characterized in that said Chayote-like lamp is formed
by assembling several Chayote-like lamp units--finger-shaped
luminous tubes bent so as to have a certain curvature and uniformly
distributed about the lamp axis. The current limiting inductor
welded and assembled on the face of the weld of the Printed Circuit
Board (PCB) is placed in a cylindrical cavity protruding downward
from the bottom center of the lower cover.
[0006] There are several beneficial effects of the present
invention. One beneficial effect is that pulling apart the gap
(identified in the figures as gap 19) between each unit luminous
tube (about six times or more than that of the column structure)
causes the light sent out from the inside of the luminous tube to
be directly sent out through the adjacent gaps and the opposite
gaps. Thereby, the light utilization rate is greatly improved.
Another beneficial effect is that, for each unit U-shaped luminous
tube of the Chayote-like lamp, the U-shaped luminous tube is bent
at a certain curvature into a finger shape. Thereby, the length of
the luminous tube is shortened. The length of the luminous tube of
the Chayote-like lamp is much shorter compared to the columnar
luminous tube with the same power.
[0007] Yet another beneficial effect of the present invention is
that the cylindrical cavity protrudes downward from the bottom of
the lower cover in the Chayote-like lamp for receiving the current
limiting inductor. This configuration shortens the length of the
upper cover on the basis of decreasing the length of the electronic
ballast.
[0008] Still another beneficial effect is that the gap between the
unit luminous tubes of the Chayote-like lamp becomes larger, which
results in sufficient heat emission and lowers the temperature in
the working area of the luminous tube. Thus the luminous efficiency
of the Chayote-like lamp is greatly improved. Meanwhile, the
temperature rise of the electronic ballast can be reduced and thus,
the reliability of the Chayote-like lamp is improved, and its
service life is prolonged.
[0009] The aforementioned and the other objects, features and
advantages of the present invention, to those skilled in the art,
will be better understood with regard to the following Detailed
Description and accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of one of the
finger-shaped unit luminous tubes of the luminous tube combination
or luminous tube in one embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the finger-shaped
luminous tube of FIG. 1A.
[0012] FIG. 1C is a top or plan view of the finger-shaped luminous
tube of FIG. 1A.
[0013] FIG. 2A is a top or plan view of the luminous tube
combination or luminous tube in one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the luminous tube
combination or luminous tube of FIG. 2A.
[0015] FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of the upper cover of the
lamp in one embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the upper cover of FIG. 3A.
[0017] FIG. 4A is a side elevation view of the lower cover of the
lamp in one embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the lower cover of FIG. 4A.
[0019] FIG. 5A is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the
electronic ballast of the lamp in one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the electronic ballast of FIG.
5A.
[0021] FIG. 6A is a side elevation view of the lamp in one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 6B is a side elevation view of the lamp
diagrammatically illustrating the inner components of the lamp in
one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 1A-2B, in one embodiment, the
luminous tube combination or luminous tube 4 of the lamp 18
(illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B) is the combination of several unit
luminous tubes 7. Each unit luminous tube 7 is formed by bending a
U-shaped tube at certain curvature into a finger-shaped unit
luminous tube 7 and building up the finger-shaped unit luminous
tubes 7 according to the shape of Chayote. According to the
different requirements to the designed unit luminous tubes 7, two
to five finger-shaped unit luminous tubes 7 with the same curvature
are connected in a manner of bridge connection to form a
fluorescent lamp with the shape of a Chayote. The tube diameter of
the finger-shaped unit luminous tube 7 is in the range of eight to
eleven millimeters. The finger-shaped unit luminous tubes 7 are
connected to one another in the sequence of connection bridge 8.
The filaments 9 (illustrated in FIG. 6B) are cased in both the
beginning and the end finger-shaped unit luminous tubes 7,
meanwhile rare earth tricolor phosphor powder is uniformly coated
on the inner walls of all the finger-shaped unit luminous tubes 7.
Also, a certain amount of mercury and inert gas is filled in the
luminous tube combination or luminous tube 4 of the Chayote-like
lamp 18.
[0024] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B, the lamp 18 has an upper
cover 2 in one embodiment of the present invention. The upper cover
2 is of a horn shape. There is external thread structure 2a on its
upper half section and there is annular key and groove structure 2b
inside of the lower section. The external thread 2a is used for
connecting and securing the base 1. The key and groove structure 2b
is used for the mechanical connection of upper cover 2 to lower
cover 3. The inner cavity 2c of the upper cover 2 is used for
receiving electronic ballast 5.
[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B, the lamp 18 also has a lower
cover 3 in one embodiment of the present invention. The lower cover
3 is of a funnel shape. A cylindrical cavity 3a is protruded
downward from its bottom center. Eight (or four or six or ten)
circular through holes 3b are distributed around the cavity 3a. A
circular peripheral border 3c with certain thickness of the lower
cover 3 is provided on the outmost edge. Annular key and groove 3d
are located on the upper part of the peripheral border 3c. The
protruded cylindrical cavity 3a is used for placement of current
limiting inductor 6. The circular through holes 3b are used for
mounting and securing the luminous tube of the Chayote-like lamp
18. The portion 3e between the peripheral border 3c and the cavity
3a is used for filling the securing glue. The annular key and
groove 3d is used for the mechanical connection to the upper cover
2.
[0026] In one embodiment, the lamp 18 also includes an electronic
ballast 5, as illustrated. The electronic ballast 5 comprises a
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 11, current limiting inductor 6 and
several resistors, capacitors, diodes, triodes, etc. (not shown).
The upper surface 11a of the PCB 11 is the face of component and
its lower surface 11b is the face of weld. The electronic ballast 5
defines a space 5a for positioning the resistors, capacitors,
diodes, triodes, etc. These components are welded and assembled on
the face 11a of component 11. The current limiting inductor 6 is
welded and assembled on the face 11b of the weld. In addition, two
input junction points 13 and four output junction points 14 are
also disposed on PCB 11. The input junction points 13 are
electrically connected to power supply connecting wire 12 so as to
provide the AC power supply to the electronic ballast 5. The four
output junction points 14 are electrically connected to the
filament outlet 10 of the luminous tube combination or luminous
tube 4 of the Chayote-like lamp 18 so as to provide high frequency
voltage and current to the luminous tube combination or luminous
tube 4 of the Chayote-like lamp 18 and two sets of filaments 9.
[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in one embodiment the
Chayote-like lamp 18 includes a base 1, an upper cover 2, a lower
cover 3, a luminous tube combination 4 of the Chayote-like lamp 18
and an electronic ballast 5. Their connection is divided into
electrical connection and mechanical connection. The electrical
connection includes the electrical connection of one end of the two
power supply connecting wires 12 of the base 1 to the center point
of the base 1 and the thread portion 17, respectively. The
electrical connection also includes the other end of the wires 12
being connected to the two input junction points 13, respectively.
In this electrical connection, the four output junction points 14
on PCB 11 are connected to the terminals of the four filament
outlets 10 of the Chayote-like lamp 18.
[0028] The mechanical connection of the lamp 18 includes: (a) the
connection of base 1 to upper cover 2; (b) the connection of lower
cover 3 to the luminous tube combination or luminous tube 4 of the
Chayote-like lamp 18; and (c) the connection of upper cover 2 to
lower cover 3 after the electrical connection. In the case of (a),
the base 1 and upper cover 2 are connected by thread and clasped
after they are screwed down. In the case of (b), the upper one end
of the luminous tube combination 4 of the Chayote-like lamp 18 is
inserted into the circular through holes 3b of the lower cover 3
and their joint is fixed using securing glue. In the case of (c),
this connection is located in the cylindrical cavity formed after
the current limiting inductor 6 is placed into the lower cover 3.
The electronic ballast 5 falls into the lower cover 3 and, at the
same time, the upper cover 2 is used to cover the electronic
ballast 5. The upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 are tightly
connected to one another through annular key groove.
[0029] Because the luminous tube combination 4 of the present
invention has a shape of a Chayote, a cylindrical cavity is
protruded from the center of the bottom of the lower cover 3
towards the direction of the luminous tube combination or luminous
tube 4. The current limiting inductor 6 is welded and assembled on
the face 11b of weld of the PCB board 11. The special structures
mentioned above bring the Chayote-like lamp advantages e.g., novel
structure, ultra-short size, small and exquisite, higher luminous
efficiency, higher reliability, longer service life and wide
application for the illumination in all places, particularly
suitable for the lamps and lanterns with covers.
[0030] The foregoing example is only used for the description of
the present invention, other than the limit to the present
invention. To those skilled in the art, variations or modifications
can be made without departing from the spirit and the range of the
present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions
shall belong to the category of the present invention and shall be
covered by the claims.
[0031] The following is a list of terms used herein and the
identification numbers corresponding to such terms:
[0032] base 1
[0033] upper cover 2
[0034] lower cover 3
[0035] luminous tube combination or luminous tube 4 (of the lamp
18)
[0036] electronic ballast 5
[0037] current limiting inductor 6
[0038] finger-shaped unit luminous tube 7
[0039] connection bridge 8
[0040] filament 9
[0041] filament outlet 10
[0042] Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 11
[0043] power supply connecting wire 12
[0044] input junction point 13
[0045] output junction point 14
[0046] connection securing glue 15
[0047] center point 16 (of the base 1)
[0048] thread 17 (of the base 1)
[0049] Chayote-like lamp 18
[0050] gap 19
* * * * *